Shortage of Veterinarians in Panama

A deficit of veterinary doctors, estimated at about six hundred professionals, is jeopardizing food security.

The acting secretary of the Panamanian Association of Veterinarians, Jose Torres, referring to the lack of professionals said that there are areas such as quarantine at airports and ports where there are only enough existing staff to cover one shift and not the three that are needed.

Panamaamerica.com.pa, quoted Jose Torres who said, "There is no supply from the State, and those working at the ministries of Health (MOH) and Agricultural Development (MIDA) are the same 120 that were there 30 years ago."

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In Guatemala the fashion for having of different kinds of pets in homes is growing, increasing the demand for vets and services to care for them.

Elperiodico.com.gt reports that "Dr. Julie de Arimany, a veterinarian and owner of Dogcare Veterinary Hospital, believes that the trend for families to adopt a pet as a family member has already been around for more than 20 years and has intensified due to television programs such as those shown on the channel Animal Planet. 'we have been operating as a hospital for eight years and during this time demand has greatly increased, we have had to adapt by adding beauty salon, kennels, home delivery. It's a good business, which is why new veterinary businesses have started up', said de Arimany. "

Engineers in different specialties, sales representatives and administrative assistants, who are all fluent in English, are those most in demand.

The Talent Shortage Survey, conducted by ManpowerGroup Costa Rica among 620 employers, found that in the case of university courses "engineering (with their different emphases) is the only one that stands out in the list of jobs in demand this year ... ", reported Nacion.com.

A lack of specialist professionals and technicians combined with poor levels of English is making the country less competetive.

Data analyzed from the latest Job Fair organized by El Salvador's Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Ministry for Employment, indicate that attendees qualifications, technical understanding and level of English were often below that sought by hiring companies.

Panama is experiencing a repeat of the Central American basic food drama, with poorly planned local production, very low cost imports and consumer high prices.

Recent statistics from the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety (AUPs) show the figures for onion (71,348 quintals) and potato (22,809 bushels) imports in the first eight months of the year, which in the view of the Association of Agricultural Producers in Chiriqui (Aproachi) have caused a glut in the local market. Surplus goods end up displacing local producers, said Ariel Rios, president of Aproachi.

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